Illini Host Georgia Tech, Colorado

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini women's tennis team continues its homestand as Georgia Tech (3-2) and Colorado (3-0) visit the Atkins Tennis Center this weekend. Action gets underway against the Yellow Jackets on Friday at 3 p.m. CT followed by a 10 a.m. tilt on Sunday against the Buffaloes. Admission to the weekend matches is free.

Weekend promotions include an Orange Out on Friday, with free orange shirts to the first 100 fans. On Sunday, the team will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Cards will be available for fans to share their favorite female athletes and role models, while free coffee and donuts will also be available.

Illinois sits at 1-1 on the season entering weekend competition and is 1-0 when playing at home.

The Fighting Illini are 0-3 all-time against Georgia Tech, with the most recent meeting occurring in last year's NCAA Tournament. The sides also met in 2023 and 2007.

On the flip side, Illinois is 3-0 all-time against Colorado. Those previous meetings occurred in 2005, 2003, and 2002.

Jan. 18 at Notre Dame – 2: Schaefbauer/Treiber, 3: Xu/Madatali
Jan. 25 vs. Northwestern – 1: Ferrari/Heuser, 3: Martinez/Xu

Jan. 25 vs. Northwestern – No. 4 singles, Ariel Madatali (2-6, 6-2, 6-2)

Team –

• None of the teams are ranked in the top 25

Doubles –

• No. 21 – Anya Nelson/Ema Bubalo (Colorado)
• No. 54 – Alejandra Cruz/Given Roach (Georgia Tech)

Singles –

• No. 109 – McKenna Schaefbauer – Illinois
• No. 111 – Violeta Martinez – Illinois

ILLINI NOTES

• Head coach Evan Clark is in his 10th year as the head coach of Illinois women's tennis, holds an overall dual record of 132-86 (.606), and is 67-31 (.684) in Big Ten play during his time as an Illini. Including his time as the head coach at UNC-Wilmington, Clark owns a 163-97 record overall.
• Illinois owns a 73-24 record when playing at home under Evan Clark (begins 2016 dual season).
• After the Jan. 25, 2025, out-of-conference victory over Northwestern, Illinois has now won five consecutive matches over the Wildcats. The squads will meet again for a Big Ten match on April 12 in Evanston.
• Ariel Madatali's first-career clinch was also the first dual win of her career, which came in Illinois' 4-2 win over Northwestern.
• During the preseason, junior McKenna Schaefbauer was selected to the Big Ten Women's Tennis Players to Watch List. Schaefbauer is coming off of a successful sophomore campaign that featured a 17-10 overall singles record and 18-16 overall on the doubles courts. The transfer appeared at all six singles slots and all three doubles courts for the Illini in 2024.
• The Illini are coming off a 17-10 season with an 8-3 Big Ten record in 2023-24. The Illini's 17 wins were the third-most under Coach Clark and tied for the 10th-most in a season in program history. Three of those top-10 marks have come under Clark. UI earned its 15th appearance to the NCAA Team Tournament in program history.
• Illinois has made the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the second time under Clark and seventh time in program history. Last season's appearance marked the fourth with Clark at the helm.

NEXT UP

The Fighting Illini will switch gears to host the ITA National Indoor Team Championships from Feb. 7-9, with Northwestern also hosting from Feb. 7-11. Illinois is guaranteed at least three matches in the event and will co-host with Northwestern again in 2026.